Social skills characteristics of students with autism spectrum disorder.

This study examines differences in social skills among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In order to investigate these differences, social skills were associated with variables like gender, age, intellectual disability, language development, and school type. For the purposes of the study a total of 63 students with ASD attending primary and secondary special education units were selected in Northern Greece. A structured questionnaire was filled in by their teachers. The results showed major differences between children with ASD and intellectual disability and those without. Likewise, verbal children obtained higher scores than non-verbal. These higher scores indicate better social skills. Age, gender, and school type differentiated the scores of the groups only in a few factors of the questionnaire. Intellectual disability and language are variables that clearly influence the socialization of children with ASD.